Player of the Year: SKYLAR DYSTRA, Redondo

Her entire season flashed right before Redondo senior volleyball star Skylar Dykstra's eyes.

It was a wicked serve to the 11 foot line on match-point. | MORE PREPS

Redondo coach Tommy Chaffins said his stomach dropped. Dykstra described it as "terrifying."

Yet somehow, some way, Dykstra extended her left hand and managed not just to get the ball up, but control it to setter Norene Iosia.

"No one else gets that ball up," Chaffins said.

The Sea Hawks got the point and eventually won the CIF Southern Section Division I-AA quarterfinal at Corona del Mar. Season intact.

"I can still think of everything I was feeling at that point," Dykstra said. "That girl is a tough server. I felt something inside me when I saw that ball, and I just went for it. That match showed how much we wanted it as a team."

As Dykstra had done throughout her entire distinguished high school career, she refused to let the Sea Hawks lose.

Whether it was a blistering kill in a timely situation, a crazy pass to save a seemingly unhittable ball or a simple word to a teammate during the course of a tense game, the UCLA-bound Dykstra was the undisputed hero, the protagonist everyone pulls for on Redondo.

Ultimately, Dykstra established herself as the 2012 Daily Breeze Player of the Year.

"She was like a Mia Hamm: the unquestionable leader among many stars," Redondo coach Tommy Chaffins said. "What was so refreshing from my standpoint is that she wasn't a pound-my-chest, look-at-me player. With her, it's all about the team. How refreshing is that?"

Ultimately Dykstra celebrated a season in which Redondo ended Mira Costa's 27-year reign as league champions. Redondo also rode a 30-match win streak into the Division I-AA final and also made the Southern California Regional final.

Only Marymount stood in the way of immortality, beating the Sea Hawks in the CIF and Regional finals.

"As hard as those losses were at the end, I keep thinking back on how great this season was and what we were able to accomplish as a team," Dykstra said.

Dykstra posted 328 kills and a .399 hitting percentage. She also had 456 digs, 45 aces and 51 blocks.

Dykstra earned Bay League MVP honors. She was a first-team All-CIF Division I-AA selection. She also earned All-American accolades and played in the High School All-American game, where she recorded a 2.9 passing mark out of a perfect 3.0 on 10 passes.

But Dykstra never made it about herself. She always wanted to make sure everyone knew it was a team thing and that they were all unified and united.

"I think that was the biggest difference from last year to this year," Dykstra said. "We were focusing a lot more on being unselfishi and being together as a team. Me and the other seniors worked on closeness and the relationships that made this team strong."

Dykstra is the last in a long and distinguished line of Dykstras.

Her older sister Jenna played for Marymount and later for Davidson College.

Her older sister Devon played for Redondo and later UCLA. Her brother Joey Dykstra played at Redondo and USC.

Then there's Lara Dykstra, who was the 2010 Daily Breeze Player of the Year at Redondo who went on to play at Nebraska and who is now returning home to play college beach volleyball, most likely at Pepperdine.

"I really did look up to them, especially Lara and Devon," Dykstra said. "I saw how much fun they had when they were on the court."

Dykstra is on target to graduate from Redondo this month and start her career at UCLA in March.

Chaffins said there's a common work ethic that all Dykstras share.

"If there is a flaw in her game, she'll go into the gym and work on it," Chaffins said. "Her club coaches and her siblings will quickly detect if there are any flaws, and she will go in and grind on it.

""We know Skylar is going to go into UCLA and compete for a spot right away."

Dykstra said she will never forget this team.

"It was a lot of fun playing with the girls on the team and getting to know each and every one of them," Dykstra said. "It wasn't about the final destination. It was about the journey, and it was an incredible journey."